Snap in cable connector

ABSTRACT

A snap in locking cable connector is composed of two mating pieces that snap together and provide a connector for armored or metal clad electrical conductors. One piece includes a member including a smooth outer cylindrical section having an inner diameter that may accommodate a spring steel adaptor with flanges to hold the spring steel adaptor in place. The spring steel adaptor is used in conjunction with an electrical junction box to fix the location of the locking cable connector with respect to the junction box. Another piece includes a spring steel locking ring provided to receive an armored cable and lock into the member. The spring steel locking ring has tangs allowing unidirectional insertion into the member and restricting withdrawal motion from the member. The spring steel locking ring also includes oppositely directed tangs to permit reception of the armored cable in one direction and restrict its movement in the reverse direction.

This application is a continuation-in-part of application Ser. No.09/007,532, filed Jan. 15, 1998, now pending.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to cable terminations and moreparticularly to locking cable terminations which snap into place andrequire no screws or twisting for locking.

2. Related Prior Art

There has been an extensive number of various types of cable connectorsthat have been designed since the initial use of electricity prior tothe turn of the century. Many types are still in use in some form. Themost common initial design that is in use today is a form that was firstpatented in the mid-twenties. This form includes a screw that istightened once the cable or electrical wire is in place. The electricalcable is fed into a hole or slot in a junction box through an oversizedfitting that has provision for receiving a screw. In the early designthe screw was configured to press directly against the electrical cable.This presented problems with the screw penetrating the insulationcovering on the wire.

Presently, the screw type securement is one where the screw tightens aclamp that presses against the wire covering. The screw is normallyfitted into the wall of a junction box and pulls the clamp closer to thewall as the screw is tightened. These clamps are designed so that evenat their tightest when the screw pulls a portion of the clamp againstthe wall, there is a space between the portion of the clamp pressingagainst the wire and the wall of the junction box. In more recent years,there have been several patents that involve snap type fittings, ofwhich the following patents are representative.

U.S. Pat. No. 3,858,151, titled "Flexible Conduit Connector", issued toJ. H. Paskert, relates to a connector for securing a helically groovedflexible electrical conduit with a junction box that is formed as a onepiece metal clip. The clip has a tubular body with tabs and barbs whichengage the helical groove in the conduit to prevent the conduit frombeing pulled out of the clip and to electrically interconnect the clipconduit. The barbs and tabs are disposed along a common helical path tofacilitate turning or screwing of the clip onto one end of the conduit.A collar on the inner end of the clip encloses the end of the conduit toprotect wires in the conduit against engagement with any burrs which maybe formed on the end of the conduit. Resiliently deflectable retainingarms and flanges clampingly engage a wall of the junction box to holdthe clip and conduit in place. The retaining arms are provided withpointed end portions which are pressed against the wall of the junctionbox to electrically interconnect the clip and junction box.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,012,578, titled "One Piece Connector For FlexibleConduit", issued to T. M. Moran et al., relates to a one piece connectorclip for securing a helically grooved flexible electrical conduit withingenerally round apertures in a junction box. The body of the clipcomprises a plurality of generally flat sides and is provided with tabswhich engage the helical groove in the conduit to prevent the conduitfrom being pulled out of the clip and to electrically interconnect theclip and conduit. A collar on the inner end of the clip encloses the endof the conduit to protect the wires contained therein against any burrswhich may be present on the end of the conduit. Resiliently deflectableretaining arms and flanges clampingly engage a wall of the junction boxto hole the clip and conduit in place and to electrically interconnectthe clip and the junction box. In one embodiment of the invention, thebody of the clip has a generally square cross-sectional configuration,in another embodiment, the body has a genally truncated equilateraltriangular shape, while in still another embodiment the body has agenerally hexagonal shape.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,880,387, titled "Connector For Flexible ElectricalConduit", issued to Allan Stikeleather et al., relates to a connectorfor joining flexible electrical conduit to a housing such as a junctionbox, fixture or the like which is formed cylindrically from light metaland includes relatively flexible arms depending from a relatively stiffface portion, retaining members flaring from the extending for asubstantial portion of the length of the flexible arms. Multiple barbsare formed on the flexible arms to engage the conduit and flanges areformed at the extremity of the flexible arms to cooperate with theretaining members to clamp the connector to the housing.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,422,437, titled "Electrical Connector Assembly", issuedto Kenneth Schnell, relates to an electrical connector assembly forcoupling non-metallic electrical connector assembly includes a snap nutadaptor with an annular groove at one end forming a first mating member,and a conduit connector with resilient latch tabs forming a secondmating member. Upon inserting the snap nut adaptor through a hole orknockout opening in an electrical box, the conduit connector is securelycoupled thereto by inserting it over the snap nut adaptor until thelatch tabs engage the annular groove via a snap fit.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides a snap in locking cable connectorcomposed of three mating pieces that snap together and provide aconnector for helically wound armored or metal clad electricalconductors. A spring steel adaptor is used in conjunction with anelectrical junction box to fix the location of the locking cableconnector with respect to the junction box. A first piece of the snap inlocking cable connector is a die cast member including at the inboundend a smooth outer cylindrical section, having an outer diameter withflanges that accommodates a spring steel adaptor. Another piece is aspring steel locking ring provided to receive a helically wound shieldedcable and inserted into the out end of the die cast member. The lockingring has outwardly directed tangs which allow insertion into the diecast member but restricts withdrawal from the die cast member. Thelocking ring also has oppositely directed tangs to receive the armoredcable and restrict its movement in a reverse direction.

The die cast member may have one or more flat surfaces around itsperiphery forming a hexagon on one of the flanges to allow gripping by awrench or other tool for tightening or loosening or making minoradjustments in the positioning of the armored cable in the member oncethe armored cable is inserted into the steel locking ring. Rotating thedie cast member in one direction will pull the armored cable and advanceit further into the member.

The spring steel locking ring has a cut out section to permit slightcompression so that the locking ring may be easily inserted into the diecast member. Once inserted, the locking ring is able to expand to thefull inner diameter of the die cast member to provide a tight fit.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an exploded view of a junction box, a first embodiment of aspring steel adaptor and a snap in cable connector;

FIG. 2 is a sectional view of a snap in cable connector having a firstembodiment of a die cast member and a first embodiment of a spring steellocking ring;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view of a first embodiment of the spring steellocking ring of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a side sectional view of the spring steel locking ring takenalong lines 4--4 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a top view of the spring steel locking ring of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a side view of the die cast member of FIG. 2;

FIG. 7 is a side sectional view of the die cast member of FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is an end view of the die cast member of FIG. 6 taken along lines8--8.

FIG. 9 is a plan view of a die-cut blank which will be formed into thesecond and preferred embodiment of the spring steel locking ring.

FIG. 10 is an end view of the second and preferred embodiment of thespring steel locking ring 100 from the trailing edge.

FIG. 11 is a top view of the spring steel locking ring 100 of FIG. 10.

FIG. 12 is a side view of the spring steel locking ring of FIG. 10.

FIG. 13 is a cross-sectional view of the spring steel locking ring 100taken along lines 13--13 of FIG. 10.

FIG. 14 is an end view of the preferred embodiment of the spring steellocking ring as viewed from the forward edge.

FIG. 15 is a side view of the second and preferred embodiment of the diecast member.

FIG. 16 is a cross-sectional view of the die-cast member 128 as takenalong lines 16--16.

FIG. 17 is a perspective view of the die-cast member 128 of FIG. 15.

FIG. 18 is an end view of the die-cast member 128 as viewed from theright side of FIG. 15.

FIG. 19 is a cross-sectional view of the assembled die-cast member andspring steel locking ring including an inserted cable held in place bythe staggered cable tangs.

FIG. 20 is a cross-sectional view of the die cast member taken alonglines 20--20 of FIG. 18.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

A continual problem in building construction is the problem of runningarmored cable for electrical connections. Many connectors require thatthere exist enough room with the junction box to permit insertion of ascrew driver to tighten the cable and fix its position with respect tothe junction box. Still other connectors can fix the position of thecable with respect to the junction box. However, once the connection ismade, the cable cannot be backed out without the connection to thejunction box being taken apart, which may not always be done easily.

In practicing the present invention, a three piece snap in cableconnector is configured for use with a helically wound cable that locksinto the junction box. The snap in cable connector is arranged to gripthe helical grooves in an armored cable securely to lock it in positionwith respect to the cable connector.

Referring now to FIG. 1, an exploded view of a junction box 12, a snapin cable connector 16 with spring steel adapter 14, a first embodimentof a die cast member 18, and a first embodiment of a spring steellocking ring 20 is illustrated. Spring steel adapter 14 includes a slot22 to permit expansion prior to being fitted over the reduced diameterarea 28. Adapter 14 fits into aperture 24 of junction box 12. Adapter 14also includes a plurality of tangs 15 to prevent removal of adapter 14once inserted into aperture 24. A more detailed operation of adapter 14may be found in U.S. Pat. No. 5,373,106, "Quick-Connect Fitting ForElectrical Junction Box", assigned to the same assignee as the presentinvention and is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of cable connector 16 illustrating theinterconnection of die cast member 18 and spring steel locking ring 20and the locking function of spring steel locking ring 20 around anarmored cable 26.

A first embodiment of the die cast member 18 is illustrated as having areduced diameter area 28 for receiving adapter 14. A lip 30 preventsadapter 14 from slipping out once inserted. Lip 30 has a slight inclineto permit insertion into aperture 24 of junction box 12. On the otherside of area 28 is a perpendicular face 31 as part of an enlargedhexagonal section 32. The diameter of face 31 is greater than thediameter of lip 30 to prevent over insertion into aperture 24. Die castmember 18 with adapter 14 can be inserted into aperture 24 only up tothe face 31 of section 32. Section 32 with its flat parallel surfacesforms a hexagonal shape when viewed from the end. When steel lockingring 20 is inserted with its cable gripping tangs, this hexagonicalshape allows gripping with a standard fixed or adjustable wrench to drawarmored cable 26 into the steel locking ring 20. In this manner, minoradjustments to the position of armed cable 26 can be effected. The innerdiameter of die cast member reduces on the inside of section 32 to formface or should 34 to restrict insertion of steel locking ring 20. Thus,the inside diameter of the locking ring is approximately the same as theinside diameter of the shoulder 34.

A first embodiment of a steel locking ring 20 is illustrated as insertedinto die cast member 18 with a first tang 36 in a corresponding opening38 in die cast member 18. As is seen, the spring steel tang 36 has anoutward extending angle which permits the tang to be depressed inward asthe steel locking ring is inserted into the outer aperture 49 of themember 18, yet spring outward into openings 38 and 38A to preventwithdrawal. Also illustrated is cable tang 40 in steel locking ring 20,gripping the bottom of the helical recesses of armored cable 26 at point42 in helical groove 44. Shoulder 34 of die cast member 18 is positionedsuch that the end of tang barely clears the end of opening 38 beforesteel locking ring 20 reaches a place where it cannot be insertedfurther.

As is seen in FIG. 2, the armored cable 26 is cut at the end 27 of theconnector which is just inside the inner end. The wires 29 are connectedon the inside of the junction box. Also shown in FIG. 2 is a plasticgrommet 60 which has flange 62 preventing full insertion into the innerend of the connector. The grommet has a reduced diameter section 64 andlatch 66 which fit over a ridge 68 on the connector. The grommet can bepushed into the connector until the latch 66 catches on the ridge 68.The grommet prevents chafing of the wires 29 and helps retain thearmored cable 26 in the connector.

Referring now the FIG. 3, an end view of the first embodiment of a steellocking ring 20 is illustrated as having two tangs 36 and 36A to providelocking stability when inserted into die cast member 18. It is to benoted that tangs 36 and 36A have angled outward surfaces and relativelyflat axial surfaces since the force that needs to be exerted on die castmember 18 is in direct line with the direction of insertion and removal.Generally cylindrical spring steel locking ring 20 is provided toreceive armored cable 26 and lock it into die cast member 18. Steellocking ring 20 has a first set of tangs 36 and 36A to allow insertioninto die cast member 18 while restricting withdrawal of locking ring 20from die cast member 18. The first set of tangs 36 and 36A includes apair of tangs located at one end of locking ring 20 with the pair oftangs spaced on opposite side from each other. In an alternatearrangement, the first set of tangs includes three tangs (not shown)located at one end of locking ring 20. The three tangs may be equallyspaced along the circumference of the generally cylindrical spring steellocking ring 20.

Also illustrated are two cable gripping tangs 40 and 40A for securelyholding armored cable 26 in position. The surfaces of tangs 40 and 40Ahave a relatively flat axial surface with the tangs angled inward towardthe inner end of the member 18. As is seen, the tangs 36, 36A, 40 and40A are lanced from the cylindrical wall of the locking ring 20. Theinside end 41 of cable gripping tangs 40 and 40a are bent on a radialdirection and jagged with points since the force that needs to beexerted is helical or twisting in nature and a flat surface would slidealong groove 44 of armored cable 26. In FIG. 3, steel locking ring 20shows the second set of tangs oppositely directed from the first set oftangs to receive armored cable 26 and prevent its removal in a reversedirection. The second set of tangs includes a pair of tangs 40 and 40A,centrally located from the ends of locking ring 20, the pair of tangs 40and 40A are spaced one hundred twenty degrees apart from each otheralong the internal circumference of locking ring 20. This arrangementpushes armored cable 26 against one side of steel locking ring 20 whenthere is an attempt to pull armored cable 26 from snap in cableconnector 26, reducing the effective diameter of steel locking ring 20to the diameter of armored cable 26. In an alternate embodiment, thesecond set of tangs may include three tangs (not shown) centrallylocated in locking ring 20, the three tangs may be spaced one hundredtwenty degrees apart from each other along the internal circumference oflocking ring 20. In this arrangement the tangs evenly distribute theforce that may be exerted to remove the cable around the outside ofarmored cable 26, with the tangs digging into groove 44.

FIG. 4 illustrates an arrangement of the steel locking ring having aslot 50 with an offset piece or tongue 52 on one side of slot 50 thatfits into a concomitant cutout 54 on the other side of slot 50. Slot 50permits compression of steel locking ring 20 to an outer diametersmaller than the inner diameter of die cast member 18. This arrangementallows easy insertion of steel locking ring 20 into die cast member 18and expansion of the outer diameter of steel locking ring 20 to fittightly into the inner diameter of die cast member 18. Slot 50 withoffset piece 52 on one side with concomitant cutout 54 on the other sideassures that tangs 36 and 36A of steel locking ring 20 remain alignedwith openings 38 and 38A of die cast member 18. Without offset piece 52and cutout 54, compression of steel locking ring 20 permitted by slot 50may result in a sliding of one side of slot 50 with respect to the otheror deforming of a locking ring 20 so that one tang, for example, tang36, may align with opening 38 while due to deformation, tang 36A isstill outside die cast member 18 and does not align with opening 38A.

FIG. 5 is a top view of steel locking ring 20 of FIG. 3 with cableholding and tangs 40 and 40A shown in phantom with inside end 41 shown.

As can be seen, tang 40 is displaced from tang 40a approximately onehundred twenty degrees along the inner circumference of steel lockingring 20.

Referring now to FIG. 6, a side view of die cast member 18 isillustrated as having reduced diameter area 28 for receiving adaptor 14.

Reduced area 28 is defined by lip 30, which prevents adaptor 14 fromslipping out once inserted, and enlarged flat face 31. As statedpreviously, lip 30 has a slight incline to permit insertion intoaperture 24 of junction box 12. Also previously stated, face 31 isgreater than the diameter of lip 30 to prevent over insertion intoaperture 24. As can be seen by a comparison of the diameters of lip 30and face 31, die cast member 18 with adaptor 14 can be inserted intoaperture 24 only up to the edge of section 32.

FIG. 7 is a sectional view of the die cast member 18 illustrating firstopening 38 to receive tang 36 of steel locking ring 20 and a secondopening 38a to receive tang 36A of steel locking ring 20.

FIG. 8 is an end view of die cast member 18 illustrated in FIG. 6. Asdescribed previously and illustrated more clearly in FIG. 8, section 32with its flat parallel surfaces forms a hexagon shape when viewed fromthe end. This shape is provided to allow gripping with a standard fixedor adjustable wrench. By rotating the wrench, (not shown) armored cable26 may be drawn into the locking ring 20. In this manner, minoradjustments to the position of armored cable 26 can be performed.

FIG. 9 is a plan view of a die-cut blank which will be formed into thesecond and preferred embodiment of the spring steel locking ring 100. Aplurality of lateral slots 102 are formed in pairs along the blank.Adjacent pairs of the lateral slots 102 are joined by cuts 103 extendingbetween them. U-shaped cutouts 104 are also formed in the blank. Theblank has a forward edge 124 which will be positioned toward a junctionbox (not shown) and a trailing edge 126 which will be positioned awayfrom the junction box. As shown in FIG. 9, both the lateral slots 102and U-shaped cutouts 104 are positioned at staggered distances from theforward edge 124. The blank also includes a triangle cut 106 positionednear the trailing edge 126 and an aperture 108 which will be used tohold the blank in a mandrel (not shown) while the blank is formed intothe tubular shaped spring steel locking ring 100. When the blank isformed into its tubular shape, tongue 114 will partially enter thegroove 116 formed on the opposite end of the blank. Lateral slots 102and cuts 103 define staggered tangs 110a, 110b, 110c which arepositioned at varying precalculated distances from the forward edge 124.

FIG. 10 is an end view of the second and preferred embodiment of thespring steel locking ring 100 from the trailing edge 126 after it hasbeen formed into its tubular shape. A gap 118 remains between the twoends of the locking ring where the tongue 114 (not shown) approaches butdoes not contact the groove 116 (not shown). The purpose of the gap 118is to depart a collapsible action to the spring steel locking ring 100so that slight pressure on the outer periphery of the locking ring 100will collapse it thereby allowing it to interact with and enter thechamber of a separate piece of the invention, a die-cast member (notshown). FIG. 10 depicts the orientation of the staggered tangs 110a,110b, 110c, outward projecting tangs 112a, 112b and triangle-shapedcable gripper 122 on the tubular shaped locking ring 100. The outwardprojecting tangs 112, 112b are defined by the U-shaped cutouts 104 (notshown) and are positioned essentially 180° apart on the outer peripheryof the locking ring 100. The triangle-shaped cable gripper 122 and thestaggered tangs 110a, 110b, 110c are all oriented inwardly on thetubular-shaped locking ring 100.

FIG. 11 is a top view of the spring steel locking ring 100 of FIG. 10.As shown in FIG. 11, the edge 111 of the staggered cable tangs (110cdepicted) are oriented toward the forward edge 124 which will beoriented toward the junction box (not shown). By being oriented towardthe forward edge 124, edges 111 of the staggered cable tangs (110cdepicted) will be able to grip and hold an armored cable (not shown)which will be inserted from the direction of the trailing edge 126.Conversely, the outward projecting tangs (112b shown) will be orientedwith their edges 113 toward the trailing edge 126 of the spring steellocking ring 100.

FIG. 12 is a side view of the spring steel locking ring of FIG. 10. Asdepicted in FIG. 12, the outward projecting tangs 112a, 112b are atstaggered distances from trailing edge 126. Two staggered cable tangs110b, 110c are depicted at staggered distances from forward edge 124.

FIG. 13 is a cross-sectional view of the spring steel locking ring 100taken along lines 13--13 of FIG. 10. Staggered cable tang 110c isdepicted extending inwardly into the tubular shaped locking ring 100. Anangled end 115 is shown near the end of staggered cable tang 110c.

FIG. 14 is an end view of the preferred embodiment of the spring steellocking ring as viewed from the forward edge 124. The staggered cabletangs 110a, 110b, 110c are oriented toward the forward edge 124.

A side view of the second and preferred embodiment of the die-castmember 128 is shown in FIG. 15. The generally tubular-shaped die-castmember 128 has a central flange 130 located approximately mid-way alongits length. Flanking the central flange 130 are a reduced diameter seat132 and a rear cylindrical body portion 144. The die-cast member 128includes a forward end 150 and a rearward end 152. The forward end 150will be oriented toward a junction box (not shown) when put in use. Alip 138 is located at the forward end 150 of the die cast member 128 andthe lip 138 and central flange 130 defined the boundaries of reduceddiameter seat 132. The seat 132 will later accommodate a spring steeladapter (not shown) which will connect the die-cast member to a junctionbox (not shown). Cylindrical body portion 144 includes openings (136shown) which will later accommodate the outward projecting tangs (notshown) of the spring steel locking ring (not shown).

FIG. 16 is a cross-sectional view of the die-cast member 128 as takenalong lines 16--16 of FIG. 15. A hollow chamber 142 is formed in therearward portion of the die-cast member 128. The chamber 142 will lateraccommodate the spring steel locking ring 100 (not shown). Openings 136,136a in the tubular body of the die-cast member 128 will lateraccommodate the outward projecting tangs (not shown) of the spring steellocking ring. By being staggered at different distances from therearward end 152 of the diecast member 128, the openings 136, 136a willrequire that the spring steel locking ring (not shown) be oriented suchthat each outward projecting tang seats in its proper opening. As shownin FIG. 16, central flange 130 extends outward of the main body portionof the die-cast member 128 throughout most of its periphery except for aflat edge 146 on one side.

FIG. 17 is a perspective view of the die-cast member 128 of FIG. 15 anddepicts the relative positioning of the central flange 130, rearcylindrical body portion 144, one opening 136 in the rear cylindricalbody portion, and the reduced diameter seat 132.

FIG. 18 is an end view of the die-cast member 128 as viewed from theright side of FIG. 15. Central flange 130 is shown extending around mostof the periphery of the tubular-shaped die-cast member 128 except forflat edge 146. Flat edge 146 will enable easier turning of the die-castmember 128 with respect to a junction box (not shown) once the two areadjoined.

FIG. 19 is a cross-sectional view of the assembled die-cast member 128and spring steel locking ring 100 including a cable 26 inserted withinthe assembly and held in place by the staggered cable tangs (110bshown). To create the connector assembly 160, the installer puts gentlepressure on the outer periphery of the spring steel locking ring 100compressing its outer diameter and closing the gap (not shown). Thespring steel locking ring 100, in its compressed diameter state, is thenslipped into the cylindrical chamber 142 at the rearward end 152 of thedie-cast member 128. The spring steel locking ring 100 is rotated untiloutward projecting tang 112b snaps into opening 136 in the rearcylindrical body portion 144 and outward projecting tang 112a snaps intoopening 136a. As the outward projecting tangs 112a, 112b are atstaggered distances from the edge of the spring steel locking ring 100,the locking ring 100 has only one orientation with respect to thedie-cast member 128 as the two are joined.

The cable 26 is then inserted within the connector assembly 160. Thecable 26 is an armored clad cable having helical grooves 44 around itsperiphery. An installer would typically push the cable into the chamber142 containing the spring steel locking ring 100 at the rear 152 of thedie-cast member 128 and advance it until the end 154 of the cablecontacted the ridge 156 at the forward end 150 of the die-cast member128. Wires 29 typically extend through the mouth 158 of the die-castmember 128.

As it is advanced into the connector assembly 160, the staggered cabletangs (110b shown) force the cable 26 against the inner surface of theconnector assembly. Referring to FIG. 10, it can be seen that the threestaggered cable tangs 110a, 110b, 110c force the cable (not shown)against the cable gripper 122 on the opposite side of the spring steellocking ring 100. Referring again to FIG. 19, the staggered cable tangs(110b shown) are staggered longitudinally along the spring steel lockingring 100 at the proper distance to allow each staggered cable tang toengage one of the helical grooves 44 on the cable 26. Staggered cabletang 110b is depicted engaging the helical groove 44 of the cable 26 inFIG. 19. The angled end 115 of the staggered cable tang 110b enables thetang to bite directly into the helical groove 44. The combination of thestaggered cable tangs biting into the helical grooves and the cablegripper engaging the cable surface prevent the cable 26 from beingpulled out of the connector assembly 160. An adapter clip (not shown)can then be slid over lip 138 until engaging flat face 134. The adapterclip will seat on the reduced diameter seat 132 of the connectorassembly 160.

The connector assembly 160 including an installed adapter, can then besnapped into place in the knock-out of a junction box. The connectorassembly 160 will advance into the junction box (not shown) until flatface 134 of central flange 130 engages the wall of the junction box. Theconnector assembly is then fastened to the junction box by the adapterand the cable is locked in position with respect to the die-cast memberby the combined action of the staggered cable tangs and the cablegripper.

FIG. 20 is a cross-sectional view of the die-cast member 128 taken alongline 20--20 of FIG. 18. The die-cast member 128 includes a thicker wallportion 148 adjacent its forward end 150. The thicker wall portion 148works in conjunction with the staggered cable tangs (not shown) of thespring steel locking ring to force the cable to the opposite side of thechannel and against the cable gripper (not shown).

A snap in locking cable connector has been described that is composed ofthree mating pieces that snap together and provide a connector forarmored or metal clad electrical conductors. One piece includes a diecast member having a smooth outer cylindrical section. This sectionaccommodates a spring steel adaptor. The smooth cylindrical section hasflanges at each end defining to hold the spring steel adaptor in place.The spring steel adaptor is used in conjunction with an electricaljunction box to fix and lock in the locking cable connector with respectto the junction box. Another piece includes a spring steel locking ringprovided to receive a helical shielded or armored cable. The springsteel locking ring locks into the die cast member. The spring steellocking ring has tangs allowing unidirectional insertion into the diecast member and restricting withdrawal from the die cast member. Thespring steel locking ring also includes oppositely directed cablegripping tangs to permit reception of the armored cable in one directionand restrict its movement in the reverse direction.

Thus, the use of the connector permits a simple assembly by snapping thehelical armored cable into the connector and snapping the connector andcable to the junction box. The connector can be slightly rotated to takeup any slack with the armored cable if the inside ends 41 of the tangsrest at the bottom of a groove which requires some tightening.

What is claimed is:
 1. A snap in locking helical armored cable connectorhaving a spring steel adapter to join to an electrical junction box tofix a location of the locking cable connector with respect to thejunction box, the locking cable connector having mating pieces that snaptogether to provide a connector for helically armored clad electricalconductors to the electrical junction box comprising;a first pieceincluding a member with an opening and a smooth inboard cylindricalsection having a diameter to include and accommodate a spring steeladapter; and a generally cylindrical spring steel locking ring toreceive an armored cable and lock said cable into said member, saidlocking ring having a first set of tangs allowing insertion into saidmember but restricting withdrawal motion from said member having asecond set of cable gripping tangs oppositely directed to receive thearmored cable and restrict its movement in a reverse direction.
 2. Thesnap in locking helically armored cable connector configured for usewith a spring steel adapter according to claim 1 wherein said first setof tangs includes a pair of tangs located at one end of said lockingring, said pair of tangs spaced on opposite sides from each other. 3.The snap in locking helically armored cable connector configured for usewith a spring steel adapter according to claim 1 wherein said first setof tangs includes three tangs located at one end of said locking ring,said three tangs equally spaced along the circumference of said lockingring.
 4. The snap in locking helically armored cable connectorconfigured for use with a spring steel adapter according to claim 1wherein said second set of tangs includes a pair of tangs centrallylocated in said locking ring, said pair of tangs spaced one hundredtwenty degrees apart from each other along the internal circumference ofsaid locking ring.
 5. The snap in locking helically armored cableconnector configured for use with a spring steel adapter according toclaim 1 wherein said second set of tangs includes three tangs centrallylocated in said locking ring, said tangs spaced one hundred twentydegrees apart from each other along an internal circumference of saidlocking ring.
 6. A snap-in connector for connecting electrical cables tojunction boxes comprising:a tubular member including a forward endhaving a snap-in connector for an electrical junction box, a rearwardend, and a central portion; and a cylindrical spring steel adapter atsaid rearward end, said adapter including outward projecting tangs atstaggered distances from its edge, said outward projecting tangspositioned to defined an outer diameter, said adapter furthermoreincluding a plurality of inward projecting tangs, said inward projectingtangs staggered at varying distances from said rearward end to alloweach of said inward projecting tangs to sink into and grip successivehelical grooves in an armored cable, said adapter also including aninwardly extending triangular shaped cable gripper, said inwardprojecting tangs and said triangular shaped cable gripper acting inconcert to grip and hold fast any electrical cable inserted within saidconnector from said rearward end thereby preventing the cable from beingwithdrawn by applying rearward force to the cable.
 7. The snap-inconnector assembly of claim 6 wherein said inward projecting tangsinclude an angled end which further aids in gripping the helical groovesof the cable, said angled end being at approximately a 90° angle to theaxis through said tubular member.
 8. The snap-in connector of claim 6wherein said tubular member further includes a thicker wall portion atsaid forward end, said thicker wall portion further aids in directingsaid inserted cable toward said triangular shaped cable gripper.
 9. Thesnap-in cable connector of claim 6 wherein said inward projecting tangsare positioned in essentially one-half of said adapter and with saidinward projecting tangs approximately 90° apart.
 10. The snap-inconnector of claim 6 which includes a central flange which is notcontinuous around the periphery of said tubular member but has one flatedge to aid in gripping by hand or by a tool.